* December 2006 - Chavez wins a presidential vote for the third time with almost 63 percent of ballots.

* December 2007 - In the first electoral defeat for Chavez in nearly a decade, Venezuelans vote down proposed reforms that include letting him run for re-election indefinitely. Chavez calls the opposition triumph a “pyrrhic” and “shit” victory.

* November 2008 - At regional elections, Chavez’s candidates keep control of 17 states, but the opposition erodes his dominance by winning six races, including the powerful Caracas mayoralty.

* February 2009 - Chavez reverses the results of his 2007 defeat by winning a new referendum, with 56 percent of vote, removing presidential term limits.

* September 2010 - Chavez’s ruling Socialist Party wins a majority in parliament, but the opposition surpasses the crucial one-third of seats and says it won the majority of votes cast.

* October 2012 - Chavez wins another six-year term with 54 percent of the vote, defeating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in close vote.

Reporting by London Editorial Reference Unit and Caracas newsroom; Editing by Kieran Murray and Andrew Cawthorne